pending danger and public calamity, to reverence and adore his immutable juftice, as well as to implore his merciful interpofition for our deliverance.

This Congrefs, therefore, confidering the prefent critical alarming and calamitous state of thefe Colonies, doearneftly recommend that Thursday, the 20th day of July next, be obferved by the inhabitants of all the English Colonies on this continent, as a day of public Humiliation, Fafting and Prayer; that we may, with united hearts and voices, unfeignedly confefs and deplore our many fins; and offer up our joint fupplications to the all-wife, omnipotent, and merciful difpofer of all events, humbly befeeching him to forgive our iniquities, to remove our prefent calamities, to avert thofe defolating judgments, with which we are threatened, and to blefs our rightful Sovereign King George the Third, and infpire him with wifdom to discern and pursue the true intereft of his fubjects, that a speedy end may be put to the civil difcord between Great-Britain and the American Colonies without further effufion of blood: And that the British nation may be influenced to regard the things that belong to her peace, before they are bid from her eyes: That thefe Colonies may ever be under the care and protection of a kind Providence, and be prospered in all their interefts: That the divine bleffing may defcend and reft upon all our civil rulers, and upon the reprefentatives of the people in their feveral Affemblies and Conventions, that they may be directed to wife and effectual measures for preferving the union and fecuring the just rights and privileges of the Colonies: That virtue and true religion may revive and flourish throughout our land: And that all America

may foon behold a gracious interpofition of Heaven for the redress of her many grievances, the reftoration of her invaded rights, a reconciliation with the parent ftate, on terms conftitutional and honourable to both: And that her civil and religious privileges may be secured to the latest posterity.

And it is recommended to Chriftians of all denominations to affemble for public worship, and to abstain from fervile labour and recreation on faid day.

Ordered, That a copy of the above be figned by the Prefident, and attefted by the Secretary, and published in the news-papers and in hand-bills.

The Congress then refolved itfelf into a Committee of the whole, to take into confideration the ways and means of raising money, and having spent thereon the remainder of the day and the day following, adjourned till Wednesday at 9 o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, June 14, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

Agreeable to the ftanding order of the day, the Congress refolved itself into a Committee of the whole, to take into confideration the state of America, and after fome time spent thereon, the Prefident refumed the Chair, and Mr. Ward reported that the Committee had come to certain refolutions, which he was ordered to report, but not having come to a conclufion, they defired him to move for leave to fit again.

The Refolutions being read were agreed to as follows:

Refolved, That fix companies of expert riflemen be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia; that each company

confift

confift of a Captain, three Lieutenants, four Serjeants, four Corporals, a Drummer or trumpeter, and fixty-eight privates.

That each company, as foon as compleated, march and join the army near Boston, to be there employed as Light Infantry, under the command of the chief officer in that army.

That the pay of the officers and privates be as follows, viz. a captain twenty dollars per month; a lieutenant thirteen dollars and one third of a dollar per month; a ferjeant eight dollars per month a corporal feven dollars and one third of a dollar month; a drummer or trumpeter the fame; privates fix dollars and two thirds of a dollar per month; to find their own arms and clothes.

per

That the form of the inliftment be in the following words:

I

have this day voluntarily inlifted myself as a soldier in the American Continental Army for one year, unless fooner discharged: And I do bind myself to conform in all inftances to fuch rules and regulations, as are or fhall be established for the government of the faid army.

Upon motion, Refolved, That a Committee of five be appointed to prepare Rules and Regulations for the government of the army.

The following perfons were chofen to compofe that Committee, Mr. Washington, Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Deane, Mr. Cufhing, and Mr. Hewes.

A letter from the Convention of New-York, dated the 10th inftant, refpecting a veffel which is stopped there, on fufpicion of having on board provifions for the army and navy at Bofton, was read and referred to the Delegates of Maffachufett'sBay, Connecticut, and New-York.

Refolved,

Refolved, That this Congrefs will to-morrow again refolve itself into a Committee of the whole, to take into farther confideration the ways and means of raifing money and the state of America. This to be a standing order, until the bufinefs is compleated.

Adjourned till to-morrow at 9 o'clock.

THURSDAY, June 15, 1775 • .

Met according to ajdournment.

The Committee, to whom the letter from the Convention of New York was referred, brought in their report, which being read,

Refolved, That the thanks of this Congress be given to the Convention of New York, for their vigilance in the cafe of Captain Coffin's veffel, and that it be recommended to them that the veffel be unloaded, and the cargo fafely ftored, until all juft fufpicions concerning the deftination of it shall be removed.

Ordered, That the above be tranfmitted by the Prefident, in a letter to the Chairman of the Convention of New York.

Agrecable to order the Congrefs refolved itself into a Committee of the whole, and after fome time the Prefident refumed the chair, and Mr. Ward reported, that the Committee had come to fome farther refolutions, which he was ordered to report.

The report of the Committee being read and confidered,

Refolved, That a General be appointed to command all the Continental Forces, raised or to be raifed for the defence of American liberty.

That five hundred dollars per month be allowed for the pay and expences of the General.

The

The Congress then proceeded to the choice of a General by ballct, and GEORGE WASHINGTON, Efq; was unanimously elected.

Adjourned till to-morrow at eight o'clock.
FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The Prefident informed Col. Washington that the Congrefs had yesterday unanimously made choice of him to be General and Commander in Chief of the American forces, and requested he would accept of that employment. To which Col. Washington, ftanding in his place, answered; Mr. Prefident,

Though I am truly fenfible of the high honour done me in this appointment, yet I feel great diftrefs, from a consciousness that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extenfive and important truft: However, as the Congrefs defire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power I poffefs in their fervice, and for fupport of the glorious caufe. I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks for this diftinguished teftimony of their approbation.

But, left fome unlucky event should happen unfavourable to my reputation, I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in the room, that I this day declare with the utmost fincerity, I do not think myfelf equal to the command I am honoured with.

"As to pay, Sir, I beg leave to affure the Congrefs, that as no pecuniary confideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expence of my domeftic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expences. Those I doubt not they will discharge, and that is all I defire.'

Refolved